September 12, 2013

SOONER OR LATER HE MUST GET TO A DOWNSIDE...:

No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage. This is possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorization.

The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria's borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance.

The entire system of international law is whatever we say it is. The danger is that if we pay attention to our enemies we might balance it. Meanwhile, if taking out Assad really would take out the UN as collateral damage it just makes the strikes even more useful.